Device for clamping and supporting a transport apparatus on a conveying cable

ABSTRACT

On the main shaft (2) of a clamping device (1), a guide-pulley (14) is provided. At the end of the main shaft, an inner clamping jaw (3) is rotatably mounted. An outer clamping jaw (7) is hinged to the inner clamping jaw (3) and connected rotation-fast to an upper frame part (6) of the clamping device. On the outer clamping jaw (7), a stop component (9) is provided. For opening the clamping jaws (3, 7), an actuating roller (10) is pressed downward, the outer clamping jaw being brought into a lower position against the pressure of a spring (21) disposed on the main shaft (2). Simultaneously the inner clamping jaw (3) rotates about the swivel joint (11) situated at the end of the main shaft (2). For closing the clamping jaws, the actuating roller (10) is moved back into its upper position. The clamping device, especially for use in cableways, requires only a few parts, which are suitable as modules both for single and for multiple couplings. The device further makes possible a simple, straight rail guidance in the coupling locations of the cableway.

The present invention relates to a device for clamping and supporting atransport apparatus on a conveying cable for use in cableways forpassenger and material transportation.

Known clamping devices or automatic clamps for fastening a chair or acabin to the conveying cable of a chair-lift or a cableway have thedisadvantage that, as a rule, they comprise many parts and are notsuitable as modules for single and multiple couplings. Known deviceswith few parts have the disadvantage that the guide rail cannot be laidin a straight line in the coupling locations.

It is therefore a task of the present invention to provide a device forclamping a transport apparatus on a conveying cable for use forchair-lifts, cableways, materialways, etc., which does not have theabove-mentioned disadvantages. The device shall be distinguished by asimple construction, and standardized parts shall be able to be used forits manufacture. The clamping device shall be able to be used forvarious types of transport apparatus or vehicles. The device shall besuited both for use in single couplings, such as are applicable, e.g.,to chairs, and in double couplings, such as are applicable, e.g., tofour-passenger cabins.

Furthermore, a simple, straight rail guidance in the coupling locationshall be achieved.

Furthermore, it is a task to form the device in such a way that thedistance between the plane normal to the main shaft which contains thecenter of the guide-pulleys and the plane normal to the main shaft whichcontains the center of the cable is about the same before and after thecoupling action. That range in which the position of the clamping jawschanges is designated the coupling action.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the characterizingfeatures of the independent patent claim 1.

Examples of embodiments of the invention, as well as their use, aredescribed in more detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a section through a clamping device such as is used indouble couplings for suspension of cabins,

FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the levers and joints of theclamping device,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially cut, of a double coupling,

FIG. 4 a top plan view, partially cut, of a single coupling.

Represented in FIG. 1 is a cross-section through a clamping device suchas is used in double couplings for cableway cabins. The clamping device1 comprises a main shaft 2 with an inner clamping jaw 3 rotatablysecured thereto. At the opposite end of the main shaft 2, a guide part 4for guiding the clamping device with the guide rail 5 disposed in acoupling location of the cableway is provided. An upper frame part 6 ofthe clamping device is connected to an outer clamping jaw 7. The innerclamping jaw 3 and the outer clamping jaw 7 are rotatably connected toone another via a joint 8. An actuating roller 10 is provided on aconnecting piece which connects the outer clamping jaw 7 to the upperhousing part 6. On the outer clamping jaw 7, a stop component 9 isprovided. On the main shaft 2, between the swivel joint 11 for the innerclamping jaw and a fastening part 12 for the suspension 13 of thecableway cabin, a guide-pulley 14 is provided for guiding the cabin withthe travelling rail 15 disposed in a coupling location. The travellingrail 15 is disposed on a station rail 16.

The actuating roller 10 is moved by an opening rail 17 disposed in themountain station and the valley station from the extended position intothe dot-dashed position 10a, during which the clamping jaws 3 and 7enclosing the conveying cable 18 open and assume the dot-dashedpositions 3a and 7a. In the zone where the actuating roller 10 ispressed by the opening rail 17 into the lower position drawn in dot-dashlines, the conveying cable runs, not horizontally, but obliquelydownward. In the position in which the two clamping jaws 3 and 7 areopening, the bearing part 20 connected to the rear part 19 of the upperframe part 6 has been displaced on the main shaft in the direction ofthe traction cable against the pressure of a spring 21. The rotarymovement of the inner clamping jaw with respect to the outer one islimited by the stop component 9. Since, during the opening movement, thestop is not reached until the spring force against the opening movement,i.e., after passage through an unstable state, the device with openedclamping jaws in stop position is in a stable state. The distance dbetween the plane normal to the main shaft which contains the center ofthe guide-pulley 14 and the plane normal to the main shaft 2 whichcontains the center of the cable 18 is about the same size directlybefore and after the coupling action. After the loading or unloading ofthe vehicle, the latter is again coupled to the conveying cable, duringwhich the actuating roller 10 is pressed by a closing rail 22 from theposition 10a drawn in dot-dash lines into the extendedly shown position,so that the inner and outer clamping jaws 3, 7 enclose the conveyingcable. The clamping mechanism comprises three levers, namely, the mainshaft 2, the upper housing part 6 with the outer clamping jaw 7, as wellas the inner clamping jaw 3. The levers are connected by three joints,namely, a joint between main shaft 2 and end part 19 of the upper framepart 6, a joint 8 between inner clamping jaw 3 and outer clamping jaw 7,and a joint 11 between main shaft 2 and inner clamping jaw 3.

The fastening part 12 for the suspension 13 is connected to the mainshaft 2 via a damping element 23. Between damping element 23 and mainshaft 2, a PVC wear-jacket 24 is provided. The element 23 exerts adamping effect upon longitudinal or transverse oscillations of thecabin.

In FIG. 2, the levers and joints of the clamping device essential tofunctioning are represented schematically in the two positions, thecable being clamped in the upper position. When the opening rail actsupon the clamping device, the lever formed by the upper housing part 6and the outer clamping jaw 7 is moved about the pivot point 25 into alower position. The inner clamping jaw 3 and the outer clamping jaw 7rotate at that time about the swivel joint 8, the inner clamping jaw 3being rotated relative to the main shaft 2 about the swivel joint 11.

In FIG. 3, there is represented a top plan view, partially cut, of adouble coupling such as is used for larger transport apparatus. The twoidentical clamping devices each have two actuating rollers 10. Theclamping devices 1 and 30 are connected to one another via a joint 31,connecting parts 32 and 33 connecting the clamping devices 1 and 30,respectively, to the joint 31.

In FIG. 4, there is represented a clamping device for a single clampwhich is used for smaller transport apparatus, e.g., chairs. In thisembodiment, the mode of operation of the individual levers and joints inthe same as explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, only not one guide-pulley isprovided, rather there are provided symmetrically to the main shaft 2two guide-pulleys 40 and 41 mounted on shafts 42 and 43 which areconnected to the frame of the clamping device.

I claim:
 1. A device for clamping and supporting a transport apparatuson a conveying cable, having a frame, a main shaft guided in a bearingpart and intended for the hanging-on of the transport apparatus, atleast one guide-pulley and a clamping jaw including an inner clampingmember and an outer clamping member, characterized in that the outerclamping member is connected via a frame part to the bearing partwherein said bearing part is pivotably connected to said frame part andis displaceable against the pressure of a spring, and the inner clampingmember is connected jointedly to the outer clamping member and the mainshaft, and a stop component is provided for limiting the clamping-jawmovement in the opening direction.
 2. Device according to patent claim1, characterized in that the spring is disposed concentrically with themain shaft between a fastening part for the transport apparatus disposedon the main shaft and the bearing part.
 3. A device according to claim 1or 2 further comprising, an actuating roller provided between theclamping jaws and the frame part for opening or closing the clampingjaws.
 4. A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for limitingthe pivoting of the frame.
 5. A device as in claim 4 wherein thelimiting means includes means for limiting the pivoting of the framesymmetrically across the axis of the shaft.
 6. A device for clamping andsupporting a transport apparatus on a conveying cable comprising:a framehaving opposite ends; a main shaft for supporting a transport apparatus;a bearing part pivotably connected to one end of the frame and slidinglyconnected to the main shaft; means for biasing the bearing part in aprescribed direction along the shaft; a clamping jaw including: an outerclamping member connected to the other end of the frame; an innerclamping member pivotally connected to the outer clamping member and tothe main shaft.
 7. A device as in claim 6 further comprising a couplerconnected to the shaft for supporting a transport apparatus, and whereinthe biasing means comprises a spring disposed between the coupler andthe bearing part.
 8. A device as in claim 6 further comprising means foropening and closing the clamping jaws.
 9. A device as in claim 8 whereinthe opening and closing means comprises means for pivoting the innerclamping member relative to the main shaft and to the outer clampingmember for selectively opening and closing the clamping jaw.
 10. Adevice for clamping and supporting a transport apparatus on a conveyingcable comprising:a main shaft; a coupler connected to the main shaft forsupporting a transport apparatus; a frame having opposite ends; abearing part pivotably connected to one end of the frame and slidinglyconnected to the main shaft; a spring disposed between the bearing partand the coupler for biasing the bearing part away from the coupler; aclamping jaw including: an outer clamping member connected to the otherend of the frame; an inner clamping member pivotally connected to theouter clamping member and to the main shaft; means for pivoting theinner clamping member relative to the main shaft and to the outerclamping member for selectively opening and closing the clamping jaw;means for limiting the pivoting of the frame symmetrically across theaxis of the shaft.